Global window films QDP ceramic tint 18%

Hey fellow Prius owners. When I was shopping around for tint, I was searching for examples. I'm adding my Prius to the forums for those wanting to see what applying 18% tint on sides and rear looks like. The lower rear window is 42% to match the other windows since that one is already slightly tinted from factory. I wanted uniform appearance overall, and am happy with the outcome. Most of these images are from an overcast day, which makes the tint look darker. First image is on a sunny day. I'll try to add more bright midday pictures soon.

Main reason for getting tint was to keep myself and the HV battery temps down during long trips. AC and tinted windows makes for comfortable road trips. Cost was $400 and took the local tint shop 3 hours.



Take it easy. If you have questions, let me know.

 

I went to Tint Works in Goleta, and the owner/installers name was Jaime. It's a one-man show there so appointments are necessary. He's a nice guy and has run that shop for 10 years. About to have a kid so that might change his availability quite a bit.

 

Hey thanks Moses Bruh. I was originally going to do 35% as well. I hope your tint turns out great.

In my first post I mentioned about posting more sunny day pictures, so here goes.

 

Thank you. It's a great color combo with the tint, but finding the right percentage is a tough decision. I was so torn between 18% and 33% that I was hoping they made a 25%. Being in California though, as I'm sure you're aware, is most often sunny which made going with the darker tint a reasonable choice.

It's not terrible at night. I have never said to myself "I wish I had gone lighter". Most of my friends have had 5% on their rear windows, and I disliked how it rendered those windows relatively useless after sundown. With 18%, the sides and back are easily viewed through in the daytime, and at night they are fine if there are street lights around. I went into downtown LA a few weeks ago and while driving through the city I didn't have any issues seeing around me. One area I don't have a lot of experience in yet, simply because I recently got the tint, is driving in non-lit areas and trying to see around me. That would be a roll-down-the-window type of situation most likely. But for real-world use, 18% is a practical balance.

In conclusion, I have zero regrets on this tint percentage regarding nighttime functionality, but my experience may vary from yours. I don't wear prescription glasses and my eyesight is good, so that might need to be taken into account. Good luck on your choice.

One last thing. If you do a lot of daytime driving, the 18% ceramic blocks the heat nicely and has made cruising more enjoyable. Can't compare it to 30%, but I surmise it is slightly better. Take it easy.